Success Stories

Dreams of Recovery Foundation is proud to introduce our grant recipients. We would like to thank all of our donors, volunteers and supporters who have contributed in making a positive impact in each recipient's life.

Recipients receive a specialized therapy program or piece of therapeutic equipment that will allow them continued recovery. Although recovery from these injuries is very slow, it is amazing to see the changes that can happen with the proper therapy and dedication by each individual.

Please take a few minutes to view each of their pages below. Here you will be able to read their success stories, view photos and videos of therapy as well as track their personal progress via Facebook, Youtube and other social media sites.

My name is Niki Antil. When I was 19 yrs old, I was in a car accident. I broke my neck at the C5-6 level, which rendered me a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the chest down. The accident changed my life forever taking away so many things that I took for granted. Read More

My name is Jennifer Bou Lahoud, a 22 year old Lebanese American and a paraplegic. On December 28, 2008, I was involved in a sledding accident where I fell on my back and dislocated two vertebrae at T10/11 which caused my spinal cord to bruise. The doctor's diagnosis, I would never be able to walk again. She continued by saying there were no medical treatments that would repair the injury caused to my spinal cord. One significant fall from a sled on a small hill in Big Bear, California changed my entire world. Read More

On May 8, 2010 I suffered an injury resulting in a broken neck in a local sporting event in Reno. This left me as a C-5 incomplete quadriplegic. Since the onset of my injury my focus has been primarily on physical therapy and getting as much return back as possible. For the level of my injury I am told that I am having a great recovery thus far and will continue to do so in the future. I have been getting significant return through my trunk and lower extremities which is showing great potential into the future for walking. Read More

My name is Kevin, when I was 26 I was working construction building a house when one day I slipped while carrying a sheet of plywood. Somehow the wood went up in the air and fell down on my head. The impact crushed my C5 vertebrae, resulting in complete paralysis. Read More

In July 2006, Kelley Goddu, 21 years old, had a tragic diving accident that changed her life forever. Prior to the accident, she lived a very active life. Kelley grew up in New Hampshire and enjoyed playing lacrosse, competitive swimming, & gourmet cooking. At the time of her accident, Kelley was attending Syracuse University as an environmental interior design major and had aspirations of becoming an interior designer. Read More

In February 1990, the first time I ever drove in snow and ice I had a head on collision just outside Portland Maine. No seatbelt, thrown from the vehicle into a snow bank. This turned out to be a good thing, the cold kept the swelling down. Read More

Senior Trip to Florida – July 4, 2001 – Water Accident Changed my life forever. I played competitive soccer throughout high school and had several scholarship offers from colleges like UCLA, Air Force Academy, and more. Most of my friends went to Cancun, but I chose to go to Florida for my senior trip with some friends. While horse playing with my best friend he pushed me in the water, a 10 foot drop off. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. I slowly floated up face down, drowning. 14 days later I woke up in Atlanta in the Shepherd Center ICU. Read More

I was 39 when I was involved in an auto accident, April 6, 2006.
I was a passenger belted in when we were hit on the expressway during rush hour, two cars chasing one another when one car hit the other causing it to spin around hitting us. The impact caused the vehicle I was in to spin around 5 - 6 times pinning me under the dashboard with the roof collapsing on top of me. This accident left me an incomplete quad. Read More

Saul Mendoza, Jr., 16 passed away Sunday, November 28, 2010 in Escondido, California. He was born on November 4, 1994 and lived in Escondido all of his life. Saul's family would like to give special thanks to Awakenings Health Institute for all of their help and support. Read More

In June 2009 I suffered a spinal cord infarct during surgery, severe spinal cord compression before surgery. Suffered paralysis from the waist down with gradual return of sensation after almost 3 years of physical therapy. Read More

My name is Jawanis Rogers, I am a 32 year old paraplegic. I suffered a spinal cord injury at T7 level (mid chest) and I have been confined to a wheelchair since May 28, 2011. I live in a city called Blakely in rural southwest Georgia. I live at home with my wife and three sons ages 15, 10 and 4 years old.. I am able to do some things for myself and I try to be as independent as possible.
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In 2008 Kamon graduated from Stone Mountain High School in the top 10% of his class. He went from there to Southern Polytechnic University as a software engineer major. In his 5 semesters there he maintained a 3.5 GPA and a place on the Dean's List. Read More

Hi, my name is Drew Seibert. I am a gastroenterologist, formerly with a busy practice in Gwinnett Co, just northeast of Atlanta, for 13 years. The night before Valentine's Day in 2006 was a Monday, and the next morning I had a full schedule of colonoscopies in the morning and office patients in the afternoon. I went to bed as usual--and woke up from a coma three days later, confused, breathing only on a ventilator, and paralyzed from the neck down. Read More

Josh Vanderbush, 22, fell from a third-floor balcony at Riverplace Apartments in Carrollton Saturday morning, injuring his spinal cord at the 6th & 7th vertebrae and breaking numerous bones in his neck. He was left paralyzed from waist down. After his fall, Josh somehow was able to use his cell phone in his pocket to call the police. Read More

My name is Ryan Vlcek. At the tender age of 18 I suffered a C5-6 herniated disc in my neck from a car accident that rendered me a quadriplegic. It was my senior year of high school in 1995 and I was on the cusp of starting my life as an adult. I had plans of attending college and starting a career when this life changing injury occurred. I had to refocus my goals and aspirations in life and start over mentally and physically. Read More

It was February 2008; I had a horrendous car accident, one exit from Auburn where I was attending college. I crossed the median and hit a pick up truck – then fainted ---- My world completely changed. Read More